YouTube’s ode to the heart & soul of music in the Middle East

Rarely does a musical instrument capture the spirit of nostalgia and contemporary culture in the Middle East & North Africa the way that Oud does. Today’s Yoodle is an ode to the oud, the heart and soul of music in the region and the blossoming YouTube community that honors the traditional instrument.

We spoke to the artist behind the design, and two YouTube creators, Azza Zarour and Esraa Nabil tell us more about the personal significance of oud’s musical expression.

The inspiration behind the Yoodle’s artwork:

Kuwaiti artist Ahmed El Refaei wanted to make Oud the central focus but more so convey a musical vibe through vibrant shapes and drew inspiration from how oud is played differently across MENA. The craftsmanship behind Oud is what attracts Ahmed the most. “I really love the craftsmanship of Oud. Beyond being an instrument, I look at it as an art piece. I appreciate [how it's made] and how each artist has their own designs. These designs also give a bit of history reflecting cultures from all around the region.”

YouTube’s Oud Community:

Azza Zarour, a YouTube creator and musician that has over 3 million subscribers, the oud “makes her feel at home wherever I am” and being a female in a male dominated space was a big part of her decision to learn oud “Oud is known to be a male dominated field and that is one of the main reasons why I chose to learn the oud to help show that women can be successful oud players”.

And the deep, personal connection with oud extends beyond those who play the instrument. Esraa Nabil grew up listening to her Syrian grandfather playing oud. For her, oud is “something nostalgic from my childhood… it’s always been in my culture so I want to learn more about it”.

To help more people learn more about Oud, we’ve put together a curated playlist that fuses traditional with contemporary. Here are some of the highlights:

For the love of classics: Azza Zarour's take on musical icon Fairuz’s “Elbint Alshalabya” is a fusion of old & new that will resonate with all music lovers.

For the philomaths: Esraa Nabil is an expert at blending humor with education and shares little known facts about Oud to help bring it closer to audiences everywhere

For the musicians: Ramsis Kasis helps more people to pick up the art of playing Oud through engaging videos

For craftspeople: There’s an art to crafting the perfect oud and Mansour’s videos break it down for anyone who aspires to make their own oud.